Netbooks, iPhones and Laptops.. all the same?

Interesteing article or rather response to a posting on NewMobileComputing.com. It raises the question of what's the dividing line between the laptop, netbook and even iPhone. As I've observed before, it depends on who's asking the question and what they're looking for. Packaging these devices with certain software and maketing them to a specific audience can increase the profitability, but at the heart, as the writer points out, with the right software (moslty available for FREE) any of these devices can be a phone, personal media player, email station, etc. This starts to push the marketers of these devices in interesting directions.. is there a killer app? killer design for a target group? Hook them with that "one thing" and don't sweat the rest... they can download what you're not offering in the bundle. Just hope they're making money off the hardware or the app store.

Asus EEE Top... Video/walk though

Full walk through of the new Asus EEE Top


It's got a nice 15" screen and a simplied Windows UI. I like HP's UI adds better.. come to think about it.. would be nice of the sold them to non HP users. HINT HINT.
[via Gizmodo]

Microsoft Consumer "Surface" Table Coming Soon?

From the article, it appears a consumer priced and focused touch table is in the works. Finally. Although my home built kitchen table version will be larger, I still think this is cool.

[via Gizmodo]

OLO, iPhone powered Netbook

Ok, I love this idea.. this connects to the old Brick PC concept and few others that have been floating around for a while.
Combine a Netbook and make the storage and UI of an iPhone integral to the whole experience...
Very cool. One problem... everytime Apple changes the physical specs of the iPhone, you have to change laptops?

More..
I think the concept is valid. People are investing in these devices (iPhone, etc..) and could leverage it..

http://olo-computer.com/
[via Gizmodo]

Asus Touchscreen

Asus finally announces a touchscreen, a ~$700 device - 1.6Mhz Intel Atom, 1GB RAM, 150GB HD, 15 screen (interesting), XP. The look at feel looks... very homey... as in not corporate, not business... .maybe... more home.. kitchen use...

The UI isn't going for the HP slick look but it looks like they've taken a riff on their Splashtop quick boot Linux OS. from the pic is still looks like this is a front-end on top of XP.

[via Gizmodo]

Motive Aquired by Alcatel-Lucent

My old Austin company (I was employee #46) Motive was bought by Alcatel-Lucnet.
They're the hardware/software company that sells commercial and residential solutions for digital communication. Also the makers of TikiTag!

Projected menus @ restaruant

In London's West-End...
http://www.contemporist.com/2008/10/07/inamo-restaurant-interior-by-blacksheep/

Not really new technology.. just new application. Cool London restaraunt projects menus and aesthetic designs on table tops... The projectors and lights are integrated into a cool form factor above the tables. The tables are interactive and touch interaces.

[via Engadget]